NFU Applauds Confirmation of Dallas Tonsager to FCA Board

WASHINGTON (March 10, 2015) – NFU President Roger Johnson today applauded the confirmation of former South Dakota Farmers Union President Dallas Tonsager to become a member of the Farm Credit Administration board of directors.

“Dallas exemplifies all the traits of a great leader in professional public service,” said Johnson. “His leadership in economic and cooperative development, both at the state and national level, is well recognized. I have no doubt Dallas will serve the Farm Credit Administration with the same enthusiasm and competency as he did during his previous six years in the same position.”

Dallas Tonsager, a longtime Farmers Union member, served as president of South Dakota Farmers Union from 1987 to 1993, served on the board of directors of the Farm Credit Administration from 2004 to 2009, and was appointed under secretary for rural development of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and sworn into office in May 2009.

During his previous tenure as a board member of the Farm Credit Administration, Tonsager supported passage of a new authority which allowed Farm Credit System institutions to invest in rural communities across America, opening a way for the system to provide funding to Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in rural America.

National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.